Download Presidential Powers

Demographic Characteristics of
U.S. Presidents
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100% male
100% Caucasian
97% Protestant
82% of British ancestry
77% college educated
69% politicians
62% lawyers
>50% from the top 3% wealth and social class
0.5% born into poverty
69% elected from large states
Constitutional Qualifications
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Must be at least 35
years old
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Must have lived in the
United States for 14
years
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Must be a natural born
citizen
Presidential Benefits
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$400,000 tax-free salary
$50,000/year expense account
$100,000/year travel expenses
The White House
Secret Service protection
Camp David country estate
Air Force One personal
airplane
Staff of 400-500
Head of State
Chief Executive
Commander-in-Chief
Chief Legislator
Chief Diplomat
Political Party Leader
Presidential Power
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Difference between legal powers and power
(which is the exercise of influence).
Powers include the constitutional and legal
authority of the president:
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National Security Powers: Commander in Chief,
make treaties & executive agreements, nominate
ambassadors.
Legislative Powers: State of the Union-recommend legislation, convene/adjourn Congress,
veto.
Executive Powers: to faithfully execute the law;
nominate executive officials (and fire them).
Judicial Powers: reprieves and pardons for federal
offenses; appoint federal judges and S.C. justices.
Presidential Power
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How much power (not powers) do presidents
have? Depends on the political context in
which they govern– something which they
have little control over.
Presidential power is the power to persuade-presidents must often bargain in order to
persuade. Few things can be done alone.
Examples: FDR, GW Bush.
Viewed this way, power (influence) fluctuates
from president to president, and within
presidencies.
The Constituencies of Modern Presidency
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The American People;
Their Party;
Executive Branch (the bureaucracy);
Congress;
Foreign Leaders.
All of these look to the president for leadership.
May see things differently, however.
A President’s ability to persuade relates more to
things he cannot control (e.g. partisan division
of Congress), rather than things they can
control.
The President & the Public
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Public approval is an important resource for
presidential leadership. Where is Bush now?
Approval fluctuates with time.
 The honeymoon: Approval generally highest
early during the term.
 Generally declines over time.
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Approval levels typically reflect public
evaluation of the handling of important issues
(economy, war, etc.).
They are not a reflection of their feelings
regarding the president’s personality.
The natural decline of approval over time
Average approval during terms (1st term Bush)
The President & the Public
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The salient issues tend to be most important
in determining public approval. Priming.
Rally events help explain sudden upsurges in
approval as a result of a foreign policy event
involving the US.
Most approval rallies are short-lived, however.
9/11 would be an example of an enduring
rally, one that is not typical.
Bush's Public Approval, through 9/17/06, Gallup
90
80
70
%
60
50
approve
disapprove
40
30
20
10
0
1 5 9 13 17 21 25 29 33 37 41 45 49 53 57 61
Month
Presidential Effects on Opinion
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Presidents try to persuade the public to gain
support, generally, and for specific proposals.
How successful are they?
It depends. Popular presidents are more likely
to be successful.
For a speech to work, the public must react
favorably, and then make it clear to Congress
what they want.
Presidential speeches designed to influence
the public have generally been unimpressive.
They rarely persuade the public.
Presidents & the Executive Branch
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As chief executive, President is charged with
overseeing vast federal bureaucracy.
Size of executive branch has increased
drastically since the 1930s.
Before 1939, presidents had little help in this
task. 1939- creation of the Executive Office of
the Presidency (EOP). Has 11 offices, incl:
National Security Council
 The Council of Economic Advisors
 The Office of Management and Budget (OMB)-most important.
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Presidents, White House Staff & Cabinet
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The Cabinet includes department secretaries.
Modern presidents rely less on their cabinet for
advice.
Cabinet secretaries have mixed loyalties.
 Must satisfy Congress & interests.
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Hence, modern presidents have relied on EOP
to manage bureaucracy and their White House
staff for political and policy advice.
White House staff work directly for President.
 This might limit diversity of advice.
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Managing/Leading the Bureaucracy
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Despite their role as chief executive, modern
presidents have been frustrated leading the
bureaucracy.
Agencies often resist presidential leadership.
Modern presidents have tools to help in task:
The appointment power. Changing agency
leadership can influence what agencies do.
 Budgetary control. Using the carrot and stick of
agency resources, presidents request budgets.
 Centralized management, through the OMB.
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Presidential Leadership of Congress
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Myth of strong presidents dominating Congress.
Evidence suggests otherwise. Presidents are
weak relative to Congress, must bargain to
persuade.
President’s greatest influence: what goes into
the legislative funnel (legislative agenda
setting).
~40% of legislative agenda are presidential
initiatives.
 Rises to ~50% during unified gov’t; Only ~25%
during divided government.
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Presidential Leadership of Congress
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Most powerful legislative tool: the Veto.
Requires 2/3rds majority in both chambers of
Congress to pass bill over a veto.
Very difficult to override. Only 12% of vetoes
(since Eisenhower) have been overridden.
 Even fewer overrides recently (see table).
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The Veto is a tool of minority presidents
(presidents during divided government).
Threat of veto important as well.
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Presidents can help shape legislation through
veto threats.
3 Essential Leadership Resources
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1. Political Party. Members of his party are
predisposed to support the president.
On average a member of the president’s party
supports the president about 70% of the time.
 Has increased during polarized era.
 Much lower among the opposing party.
 Presidents have little impact on the number of
their partisans in Congress.
 Presidential coattails-- uncommon, and
disappears by the midterm election.
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2006
GW Bush
-30
-6
3 Essential Leadership Resources
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2. Public Support can help the president
persuade Congress.
A necessary, but insufficient resource for
leadership.
 Results are mixed, but most research suggests
only a marginal relationship between approval
and legislative support.
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3. Legislative skills. Some presidents are more
skilled than others.
Bargaining takes skill, understanding of process.
 Skilled presidents generally best at determining
an effective strategy.
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Presidential Legislative Strategies for
Success
Move quickly once elected.
 Take advantage of the “honeymoon” that
follows inauguration.
 Legislative success usually comes early.
Focus the agenda by setting clear priorities on
a few important items.
Understand the strategic situation. Many
presidents attempt too much, given context.
Consult with Congress, don’t alienate them.